Nintendo Opens New Job Role to Preserve and Organize its Old Games

Nintendo of America has introduced a fresh job role focused on preserving and cataloging its extensive collection of older games. The company has produced approximately 11,000 titles throughout its existence and now aims to organize, particularly the more vintage ones, within its Redmond, WA facility.

The new position is that of a Digital Archivist, Historical Systems, whose primary responsibilities include safeguarding, structuring, and making accessible historical hardware and software data. This role involves developing a systematic structure for organizing technical records, engineering documentation, source materials, and the knowledge about legacy systems and platforms associated with Nintendo.

Essentially, the digital archivist serves as a librarian for Nintendo's older games, systems, and platforms, as well as any related documentation. The ideal candidate should possess expertise in archives, metadata management, information architecture, and research. They will collaborate closely with subject matter experts from various departments, including engineering, product development, legal, and business teams, to establish standards and processes ensuring the historical information remains discoverable, usable, and preserved for future generations.

The role is a 12-month contract position with a salary range between $35 and $55 per hour. A Bachelor's degree in fields like library & information science, Archives, Museum Studies, Information Management, History, Technical Communication, or a related area is preferred, though professional experience may be considered equivalent.

This move represents a significant stride in video game preservation, a cause long advocated for by enthusiasts and activists. For instance, the Video Game History Foundation, established in 2016, has worked towards creating the United States' first library dedicated to the study of video game history and preserving games' source code.

Given Nintendo's pivotal role in the gaming industry and its historical significance, it's logical for the company to take such steps to archive its works. This could potentially lead to unforeseen discoveries, as evidenced by a recent case where a collector discovered 97 copies of an unreleased version of Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt, five of which were graded perfect 10s by PSA.